Seven million at risk of overpaying energy bill if they fail to read meter

More than seven million households need to read their meter by the end of the month to make sure they avoid higher energy rates from 1st October, according to research by Uswitch.

Homes on a standard tariff with average usage are expected to spend £140 on energy in October, compared with £63 in September. The increase is down to a combination of higher rates and increased usage in autumn.

Those on standard tariffs who do not have a smart meter and do not submit meter readings on or around 1 October risk having some of their September usage charged under the more expensive October rates.

The difference between a week’s worth of energy at September’s rates compared with October’s is £17.02 for the average household. Therefore, if those seven million households forget to read their meter by 1 October, and are incorrectly charged by just a week’s worth of energy, they could risk overpaying by £125 million in total[2].

Households are being urged to get a fixed energy deal while prices are still competitive. Right now, there are 25 fixed deals available, which are cheaper than the October price cap. The cheapest fixed deal on the market offers savings of around £215 compared with the October price cap for the average household.

Global instability and uncertainty in wholesale energy prices mean many industry experts are expecting the price cap to increase again next year. This means that households could face another energy price hike within the next six months.

A fifth (20%) of households without smart meters haven’t submitted their meter readings in the last three months, and 6% haven’t for a whole year. Not submitting meter readings means suppliers base bills on estimated usage — meaning some households could be overpaying, and others may not be paying enough.

A third (33%) of those who have not submitted their readings in the last three months say they don’t need to submit a reading that often, while one in seven (16%) say they forget to.

Ben Gallizzi, Energy expert at Uswitch.com, said “Households should take a moment to read their energy meter in the coming days to avoid the possibility of being charged at October’s higher energy rates.

“Customers who don’t have a smart meter should submit their readings before or on Wednesday 1st October, so their supplier has an updated – and accurate – view of their account. It’s worth seeing if your supplier offers any free energy schemes at off-peak times, which can save a lot of money.”

Cheapest ten fixed energy tariffs 

Supplier	Tariff	Fix duration	Average annual bill	Saving vs the July  price cap (£1,720)	Saving vs the October  price cap (£1,755)	Exit fees	Availability
Outfox Energy	Outfox the Price Cap – Oct 2025 – 12M v5.0	12 months	£1,540	£180	£215	£75 per fuel	Direct via Outfox the Market
Outfox Energy	Outfox the Price Cap – Oct 2025 – 2-year v5.0	24 months	£1,542	£178	£213	£125 per fuel	Direct via Outfox the Market
Outfox Energy	Outfox the Price Cap – Oct 2025 – 15M v5.0	15 months	£1,544	£176	£211	£100 per fuel	Direct via Outfox the Market
Fuse Energy	September 2025 Fixed (13m) V5	13 months	£1,545	£175	£210	£50 per fuel	Special deal on: Uswitch.com, Confused.com, and direct via Fuse Energy
Fuse Energy	September 2025 Fixed (15m) V5	15 months	£1,558	£162	£197	£50 per fuel	Uswitch.com, Confused.com, and direct via Fuse Energy
Fuse Energy	September 2025 Fixed (12m) V5	12 months	£1,563	£157	£192	£60 per fuel	Direct via Fuse Energy
E.ON Next	Next Fixed 12m v86	12 months	£1,625	£95	£130	£50 per fuel	Uswitch.com, Confused.com, and direct via E.ON Next
Sainsbury’s Energy	Sainsbury’s Energy Fix and Save 12m v1	12 months	£1,630	£90	£125	£50 per fuel	Direct via Sainsbury’s Energy
Co-op Energy	Co-op 12M Fixed September 2025 v1	12 months	£1,655	£65	£100	No exit fees	Direct via Co-op Energy
Octopus Energy	Octopus 12M Fixed September 2025 v1	12 months	£1,655	£65	£100	No exit fees	Direct via Octopus Energy
Source: Uswitch.com. Prices correct as of 5:22pm on 22 September 2025. Tariffs included within the table are the cheapest non-bundle fixed tariffs, not variable or tracker. All energy tariffs and prices mentioned are subject to change without notice, and rates vary upon region. These are the cheapest tariffs available based on suppliers who have updated Uswitch with their rates. *No exit fees when taken direct.